Saddlescombe Farm Open Day.

Specialist tours, Farmers Market & Lambing.

Sunday 24 April sees the National Trust’s hamlet at Saddlescombe open to the public - a rare opportunity to visit this secluded farm on the South Downs – once owned by the Knights Templar.

This year we are pleased to officially open our new learning space, where we will be displaying artefacts from Brighton Museum’s collection of Stone Age tools and Roman pots found around the farm over 100 years ago and probably never seen by the public before.

For just one day, Saddlescombe will be open for visitors to experience. Expert guides will be relating the story of Saddlescombe from the past 1000 years; Camilla and Roly, our new farm tenants, will be showing off their newly born lambs; and fresh local produce will be available at the farmers’ market.    

Demonstrations of traditional farming activities, flint knapping and a family area with treasure hunts and farmyard related games, are also on offer.

Graham Wellfare, Ranger, says: “This is a chance to get a unique glimpse of a farm that time forgot, with its blacksmith’s forge; 400 year old barns and famous donkey wheel and well which once provided water to the whole farm.  There’s also the opportunity to explore the Tudor wing of the manor house and see the produce of its kitchen garden and orchard”

For those wishing to explore a little further, why not join our National Trust Ranger on a tour of surrounding Newtimber Hill – considered one of the best downland sites in the new National Park.

The farm will be open between 10.30am and 4 pm. Charges for this special event will be £5 for adults £2 for children. Family ticket £13. £1 for parking (National Trust members park free). Teas, homemade cakes, lunches and ice cream will be provided by the Hiker’s Rest.

Saddlescombe Farm is ¾mile east of the Devil’s Dyke.  It can be reached by taking the award winning open top 77 bus from Brighton to the Devil’s Dyke, and walking the South Downs Way from there. Car parking at the farm will be signposted on the day on Saddlescombe Road, between Poynings and the Devil’s Dyke Road from the A27.

For more information please call the National Trust on  01273 857712